Recent Senate VotesRevised Defense Authorization — Passage – Vote Agreed to (91-3, 6 Not Voting)
The Senate cleared legislation that authorizes $599 billion for the Pentagon and defense-related programs for fiscal 2016, $5 billion less than both the president’s overall request and the original conference agreement. It provides $33 billion of the original $38 billion in added funds for defense, including $8 billion through the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The measure authorizes $715 million for Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State, $406 million to train and equip Syrian opposition forces and $300 million for lethal weapons for Ukraine. It modifies the military retirement system, blocks the Pentagon from retiring the A-10 Warthog aircraft and authorizes $11 billion for the F-35 Fighter.Sen. Charles Schumer voted YESSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted YES

Military-Construction-VA Appropriations — Passage – Vote Passed (93-0, 7 Not Voting)
The Senate passed an amended version of the bill that funds veterans’ health programs and military bases. The measure, which contains nearly $80 billion in discretionary funding, also includes language that prohibits transfers from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. homeland and a ban on another round of base closures.Sen. Charles Schumer voted YESSen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted YES

Upcoming VotesTransportation-HUD Appropriations – HR2577
The bill funds the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. The measure, which contains nearly $56 billion in discretionary funding, also provides funding for such items as Amtrak and Section 8 housing vouchers.

Bank Mortgage Liability – HR1210
The bill creates a safe harbor from lawsuits for banks that originate non-qualified mortgages that do not comply with ability-to-repay requirements, as long as the bank retains the mortgage in its own portfolio.

Federal Reserve Overhaul – HR3189
The bill modifies Federal Reserve operations and oversight in an effort to make it more accountable, including by requiring the Fed to develop detailed strategies with set goals for conducting monetary policy that would be reviewed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and requiring the Fed chairman to testify before Congress if GAO determines that the strategy no longer complies with bill requirements. It also provides for GAO audits of all Fed activities, including its deliberations over monetary policy. The legislation requires the Fed to conduct cost-benefit analyses of all proposed rules and limits the Fed’s emergency lending powers.